Dead battery being totally dead! And after that, what stops the current from the alternator from going to the battery once it is fully charged?



Thanks


------------------
89' Formula, 350tpi lots mods.
Fast as hell!!!!!!!

 

Don't!
If you try to charge a dead battery with the alternator, it will fry the alternator quickly. It forces it to run at full load and burns out the diodes.

------------------
86 Camaro Sport
383 Speed-O-Motive Crate Engine, Raptor 700R4 Tranmission, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge G2's, 58mm Accel TB, 3.73 Auburn Pro, SLP Cold Air Induction and Headers, Hooker Cat-back, Serpentine Belt Setup, Dual IROC Fans, Jamex springs, 16" IROC Rims, 36mm/24mm Sway Bars, Global West Steering Brace. Hotchkis Rear LCA's,Panhard Bar and SFC's.
My Camaro Project

 

I guess I could be considered somewhat of an expert on this. When I leave work ing the morning it is still dark out but it's daylight by the time I get home so I am constantly leaving the lights on (at least twice a month) and finding a dead battery later that day. I usually jump the car, drive 10 min to the quick stop to grab a pack of smokes and back, and by that time the battery has enough charge to restart the vehicle, every is OK until I leave the lights on again. Hope that answers your question.

Dan
Cameron NC

 

The alternator isn't really equipped well to charge a dead battery. It's meant to maintain the battery.

------------------
350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

Investing in a good battery charger is almost a must for any automotive enthusiast, and that is the best way (a 2-amp trickle charge) to bring back a dead battery without excessive buildup of sulphates on the plates. Just my $0.02.

------------------
1990 IROC 350
Mods: Too busy trying to make it run right to mod it.
Airfoil, Dynomax cat-back, MSD coil, 180 t-stat, Bald Eagle tires,
Hypertech fan switch, Accel 23# injectors, Holley module, ported plenum,
Ported Daytona Yellow stock base, Moroso valve covers, other stuff,
Streetdampr, Ruger P95DC, hot wife, new oil filter, !cats, !TBC, !AIR.
18.0 @ 85MPH since I'm one big-a$$ MF
"It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."

 

Well, I took your advice and took the battery to Discount Auto parts where they put it on a slow charge for 3 hours. It was charged up to 560 cca, the battery can hold a max. of 650 cca. I asked the guy about the remaining amount, and he said that the alternator would top that off. I'm not sure if that is all together true...

------------------
89' Formula, 350tpi lots mods.
Fast as hell!!!!!!!

 

As far as i know the battery should have a full charge on it,as full as you can give it and then the alternator will maintain the voltage from there.I went out and bought a battery charger with jump start on it anyways so my battery could have a full charge.My battery was so dead and it wouldnt take a jump start.I let the charger fully charge it and then it was perfectly fine.The battery is like a normal battery for a change,cause before i gave it a full charge it would die on me even though it had enough jiuce to start the car after id jump it.

 

So I guess I should take it back to get fully charged. The only thing that I hate about that place (Discount Auto Parts) is that they leave the battery charging until you come in to pick it up. So it could be charging for hours/days until you picked it up. Ultimately damaging the battery. How exactly does a dead or low charged battery damage the alternator?

 

well basically,the alternator cant handle trying to bring the volts of the battery up from lower than X amount of volts.The alternators job is to maintain the voltage of a healthy battery.But thats all i know,anyone else?

 

Bishop,

Dont take the battery back for more charging. 560 CCA is plenty to get your car started, and contrary to some of the above posts your alternator will not have a problem bringing the batt. up from that amount.

I could understand not wanting to charge the batt. with your alt. when it is completely discharged, but there is not a huge difference between 650 and 560 CCA. Just take the car out on the highway during the daytime without your A/C on and cruise for half an hour. If your charging system is up to par your batt. will be fully charged.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep the battery at 560 and let the car take care of the rest. Saves me a trip, and assures me that I'm not neglecting the car.

Thanks for all of the posts.



------------------
89' Formula, 350tpi lots mods.
Fast as hell!!!!!!!